Forgiveness

Fanfiction is often looked down upon. Especially slash fanfiction.
"Porn!" Some people call it. And others bitch and moan, saying that the
characterization is all wrong. "These men aren't gay." They tell the writers.

This seems to be a large problem with Mulder/Krycek slash. People
think that it's implausible. "Krycek is evil; he killed Mulder's father,
Scully's sister. He's done all sorts of bad things."

I find this a rather one-dimensional view of the character, and,
while I'd like to rant about that for awhile, that's not what I'm here to
write about today.

What I want to talk about is the themes in Mulder/Krycek stories. I
know that dissecting them to death would be tedious and un-productive, so I
won't do that. But an obvious theme has caught my attention, and I feel I
need to say my piece about it.

In most M/K fics, the boys reconcile, if only for a night. These one
nighters often end up having sequels, where the boys work out their problems.
In other stories, the boys work out their anger and problems, and come to
some sort of an agreement, before hopping into bed with one another. Then
there's the stories where they loved each other all along, and just needed to
admit it. So, what's the common thread here? Forgiveness.

That's what all (with the exception of a few fics where one assaults
the other, or it's really *is* just about sex) M/K is about. Forgiveness.
They've become modern parables, fables. They teach us a virtue. Mulder
forgives Krycek for past transgressions, they (eventually) live happily ever
after. Unless they die first, of course.

And I think this is why I love M/K so much. Sure, the boys are cute,
but there's a lot of fandoms with cute boys, a lot of other X-Files pairings
that make my mouth water. But they never touch me as much as the boys do. I
can never read anything else so voraciously; I scarf down M/K fic faster than
it can be written, wondering each day in what new way the boys will come
together.

I think that nothing happens without a purpose. Mulder and Krycek, as
a pair, were brought into my life. "Why?" I asked. They warm my heart. They
give me a voyeurs glimpse at love, and the trial and tribulations thereof.
When a story ends with them together, it makes me happy. It puts me in a good
mood for the rest of the day, as I recall the story in my head.

And then, being self-inquisitive, and believing that everything
teaches a lesson, as well, I asked, "What do these stories teach me? When I'm
done, what do I come away with?"

The answer?

"Forgiveness and love stand hand in hand. They cannot exist separately.
Together, they lead to greatness."

And, should this be the only truth I come away with, I know that all
those hours spent reading and writing haven't been wasted.